In this early 21st century, the focus of society, not just the Western world, but around the globe, is the pursuit of comfort. We have comfort food, comfort and support pets, pine for the more luxuriously comfortable automobiles, and demand cooled and heated living spaces that ensure year around peak comfort.

The so-called modern church today, believing that growth in numbers is the only measure of spiritual success, has fallen lockstep in providing maximum comfort to potential parishioners. The trend is to present a more casual approach to church attendance where the concept of worship is lost to warm bagels, hot coffee, and plush seating.

When Jesus found the temple polluted with deceivers selling and buying sacrificial animals, He overturned their money tables and drove them out with the sting of a whip. He declared that His Father's house was to be called the house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). I believe He was making a declaration about His church: to be a house of prayer, a house of worship, and a house of praise. It was to be the dwelling place of our most-high God.

While seeking to make the church service the most comfortable experience possible, overall attendance in most churches continues to decline. Many services have been designed to be casual by promoting a come-as-you-are philosophy, accentuating tolerance of behavior and dress. Such philosophy has seen the rise of several mega churches, where attendance has exploded and seemingly authenticated the approach. While they boast large numbers, I am certain the Lord is pleased with these cavalier church experiences.

Today we can find the entire spectrum of church atmospheres. A few traditional churches still embrace conservative church attire while others have no problem with shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. Is there a Biblical standard that has been lost, or are we simply modernizing the church? Have we lost the reverence for the holy, for the sanctuary, or is God even watching?